Live music is a wonderful escape from the everyday. Once a concert starts, everything else dissipates and concertgoers just live in the moment.
The Arden Theatre's al fresco Plaza Series is all about introducing a change of pace. In a special double bill organized specifically for St. Albert audiences, the reflective, yet energized style of Edmonton-based John Hewitt comes together with English troubadour Chris Ronald's songs on Thursday, July 13.
The two have never played together, yet both share common roots and are driven to tell stories of ordinary people and events. Stories that span between tragic and comedic moments in life. Stories that can prompt one to action or heal raw wounds.
Chris Ronald immigrated to Canada in 2002 from England. Since moving to Vancouver more than 20 years ago, he has note-by-note established himself as one of Canada's finest singer-songwriters.
Shaping his destiny with influences from the Beatles, Neil Young, John Denver and Jim Croce to the currently popular Americana, Ronald issued a self-produced starter CD and four full-length albums: Light and Dark (2021), Fragments (2017), Timeline (2014) and Turning Tides (2011).
As a teen growing up in Derby, he learned to play acoustic guitar from an older brother and meshed his poems to music. He also dabbled in Third Wish, a four-piece band that played rock-pop classics.
"The music I played back then was pop. But by virtue I played an acoustic guitar, it was more folky sounding," said Ronald.
After obtaining a university degree in biology, he was recruited and hired by Sony as a sales manager. Ronald later worked at Comet, the British version of Best Buy and developed five years of experience dealing with consumer electronics.
But after a world trip with his wife and moving to Canada, Ronald realized he didn't want to work for a large corporation and turned towards teaching elementary school.
"When I was in the equivalent to Grade 4 and 5, I had a really good teacher and was encouraged in sports. When I thought of what kind of teacher I would like to be, I thought of him. A very good teacher can make a difference in a young person's life."
Once in Canada, Ronald dipped into his well of creative juices and started recording songs. In one of his early attempts for recognition, the recording artist entered two songs from Timeline in the Kerrville Folk Festival held annually in Texas. Both The Busker, a solo ballad, and The Mountaineer, a country-driven tune, were selected in the songwriting competition.
"It was my first real recognition. It helped elevate my profile. Then I entered the Canadian Folk Music Festival, and I was nominated for Songwriter of the Year."
Currently his music veers from jazzy sounds to country ballads and all points in between. Throughout the past decade, Ronald's storytelling became the high water mark of his songs.
"I've become a better songwriter and grown a bit more complex lyrically and musically. Previously I would write and go where it took me. Now I write with purpose and an end in mind."
John Hewitt Trio
Some musicians have a backup plan in case their music career flops. Not John Hewitt. He's in it for the long haul. When he's not writing, arranging, producing, recording, marketing and booking shows, the singer-songwriter is on the road.
"When I'm on the road I find more inspiration and I think about starting to release another EP," Hewitt said.
When the pandemic forced many artists to take a wait-and-see approach, the high-energy performer came out of it with three albums: Life Blood and Tears, Hollywood Reality and Dead Lovers.
"Even though I couldn't play live, I could still do music. I wanted to be ready and come out of it with a full body of work."
In addition to the three previous albums, Hewitt issued the full-length Broken Rebels in June. This nine-song collection captures a creative spark and delivers the folk-rock vibe he's worked towards his entire career. It is a rich contrast to his 2022 album, Life Blood and Tears, recorded as a stripped-down solo disc.
Hewitt grew up in Sault St. Marie before moving to Toronto and eventually Edmonton in 2018.
"The best country, folk clubs and listening rooms in the country exist here. For what I was doing, it made sense to move here."
At the tender age of 10, he became "obsessed" with the 60s counter-culture movement and pop music of the era, something that remains part of his identity. Broken Rebels is a nod to his past.
"My influences were Bob Dylan, the Beatles, and Fleetwood Mac. Those influences are in my music. This is the closest I've come singing folk songs with 60s pop roots."
He is attracted to folk music due to its dominant storytelling qualities.
"It's a tradition. Lots of music comes from stories. When you hear music, you hear the personal stories. Folk music is about people and some of the best songs are about what people go through. I often write about people I've just met. As a songwriter, I have the creative freedom to fill in the gaps and create a story."
Hewitt will perform with Konnor Miskiman holding down the bass and Patrick Hughes doubling up on harmony and guitar.
The double bill is Thursday, July 13, starting at 7:30 p.m. at St. Albert Place Plaza. Single tickets are $15, and a premium table for six is $120. Call 780-459-1542 or online at tickets.stalbert.ca.
